FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. (Court TV) — A former firefighter and his wife will remain free on bond as they face new charges after prosecutors say they locked their adopted preteen daughter in her bedroom daily.
Jennifer Kohnert appeared in court on July 13, 2026. (Court TV)
Joel Kohnert, 44, and his wife, Jennifer Kohnert, 45, pleaded not guilty on Monday to charges of neglect of a child and contributing to the delinquency of a minor; they had previously pleaded not guilty to a single charge of aggravated child abuse.
Prosecutors say the Kohnerts’ adopted 12-year-old daughter reached out for help to a school resource officer in February, reporting that she was locked in her bedroom each night. While locked in her room, the alleged victim had no access to a bathroom, resulting in her having accidents on the floor. Prosecutors said she was then forced to use her own clothing to clean up the following morning. The bedroom had “no means of escape,” investigators said — with the door locking from the outside and a single window also restricted. The room had minimal furniture; the child slept on an air mattress and first responders said there were no toys or personal items there…